Oblique Complement: Difference between revisions

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<li>it does not fit the definition of any of the other grammatical functions.</li>
<li>it does not fit the definition of any of the other grammatical functions.</li>
<li>typical examples in which the verb restricts the choice of a PP</li>
<li>typical examples in which the verb restricts the choice of a PP</li>
<code> wait for+N(P)--> wait for you </code><br>
<code> wait for + N(P)--> wait for you </code><br>
<code> substitute with+N(P)--> substitute plastic with paper</code><br>
<code> substitute with + N(P)--> substitute plastic with paper</code><br>
<code> rely on+N(P)--> rely on her punctuality<code><br>
<code> rely on + N(P)--> rely on her punctuality<code><br>
<code>talk to+N(P) --> talk to the students</code><br>
<code>talk to + N(P) --> talk to the students</code>
<li>the verb requires a directional phrase, independent of how this is lexicalized:</li>
<li>the verb requires a directional phrase, independent of how this is lexicalized:</li>
<code> put [sth.]<b>DObj</b> [somewhere]<b>Obl.compl</b>
<code> put [sth.]<b>DObj</b> [somewhere]<b>Obl.compl</b></code>
</ul>
</ul>
<b>Categories and structural position</b><br>
<b>Categories and structural position</b><br>
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<li<Oblique complements are always PPs.</li>
<li<Oblique complements are always PPs.</li>
<li>It is a sister of V and NP and dominated by a VP.</li>
<li>It is a sister of V and NP and dominated by a VP.</li>
</ul>
Example:
Example:
               _S_
               _S_

Revision as of 15:45, 17 May 2019

Test for identifying oblique complements in English

  • An oblique complement (Obl.Compl) is a PP or an AdvP which behaves like a complement, i.e. it is semantically implied syntactically necessary
  • cannot be used with a pro-VP form such as do so:
  • John put a book on the shelf and Mary did so (*into the drawer), too.
  • it does not fit the definition of any of the other grammatical functions.
  • typical examples in which the verb restricts the choice of a PP
  • wait for + N(P)--> wait for you
    substitute with + N(P)--> substitute plastic with paper
    rely on + N(P)--> rely on her punctuality
    talk to + N(P) --> talk to the students
  • the verb requires a directional phrase, independent of how this is lexicalized:
  • put [sth.]DObj [somewhere]Obl.compl

Categories and structural position

    <li<Oblique complements are always PPs.
  • It is a sister of V and NP and dominated by a VP.

Example:

             _S_
            /   \
           /     AuxP
          /     /  \
       subj    /   VP
        /     /   /  \
       /     /   / obl.compl
      /     /   /    |       
    NP   Aux   V    _PP__
   /__\   |    |   /_____\
   Pat  will wait  for Kim.




  1. The predicate
  2. The subject
  3. The complements
    1. The direct object
    2. The indirect object
    3. The predicative complement
    4. The oblique complement
  4. Modifiers (Adjuncts)